Coniston vs Mount Saint Thomas

In both, most households own their home. In Mount Saint Thomas, the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Coniston: a median of $1.06 million, against $915,000 in Mount Saint Thomas, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Coniston tends to suit people living alone, while Mount Saint Thomas suits families with children.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Mount Saint Thomas

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (92% vs 51%)
  • carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 78/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (61% vs 49%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Mount Saint Thomas

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($915,000 vs $1,060,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mount Saint Thomas

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 23%)
  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $350/wk)
  • But Coniston has a bigger rental market to choose from (43% vs 28%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Coniston

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (49% vs 8%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 14%)
  • But Mount Saint Thomas carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 78/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Where they sit

Coniston and Mount Saint Thomas drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Walkability 72 / 75
Coniston — Walkability: 72/100 Mount Saint Thomas — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 22 / 45
Coniston — Safety: 22/100 Mount Saint Thomas — Safety: 45/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Coniston — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mount Saint Thomas — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Coniston has more residents (2,267 vs 1,449); Mount Saint Thomas has higher household incomes ($95,420 vs $79,820).

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Population 2,267
+36% vs other
 1,449
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.0% —
Median age 39 37
Median household income $79,820/yr $95,420/yr
+20% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+14% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
0-4 4.3% / 6.8%
Coniston — 0-4: 4.3% Mount Saint Thomas — 0-4: 6.8%
5-14 9.9% / 12.6%
Coniston — 5-14: 9.9% Mount Saint Thomas — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 4.9% / 6.0%
Coniston — 15-19: 4.9% Mount Saint Thomas — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 9.8% / 6.3%
Coniston — 20-24: 9.8% Mount Saint Thomas — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 15.8% / 13.7%
Coniston — 25-34: 15.8% Mount Saint Thomas — 25-34: 13.7%
35-44 11.9% / 14.6%
Coniston — 35-44: 11.9% Mount Saint Thomas — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 12.6% / 12.9%
Coniston — 45-54: 12.6% Mount Saint Thomas — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 11.1% / 13.0%
Coniston — 55-64: 11.1% Mount Saint Thomas — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 9.6% / 8.0%
Coniston — 65-74: 9.6% Mount Saint Thomas — 65-74: 8.0%
75-84 6.7% / 4.5%
Coniston — 75-84: 6.7% Mount Saint Thomas — 75-84: 4.5%
85+ 3.7% / 1.6%
Coniston — 85+: 3.7% Mount Saint Thomas — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Coniston 32.5% couple families
Coniston — Couple Families: 32.5% Coniston — Lone Person: 41.9% Coniston — One Parent Families: 16.9% Coniston — Group Household: 6.9% Coniston — Other Families: 1.8%
Mount Saint Thomas 43.8% couple families
Mount Saint Thomas — Couple Families: 43.8% Mount Saint Thomas — Lone Person: 32.7% Mount Saint Thomas — One Parent Families: 17.3% Mount Saint Thomas — Group Household: 4.1% Mount Saint Thomas — Other Families: 2.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Coniston 42.6% renting
Coniston — Owned Outright: 31.8% Coniston — Mortgage: 25.6% Coniston — Renting: 42.6%
Mount Saint Thomas 27.5% renting
Mount Saint Thomas — Owned Outright: 29.0% Mount Saint Thomas — Mortgage: 43.5% Mount Saint Thomas — Renting: 27.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Certificate III & IV 13.7% / 16.6%
Coniston — Certificate III & IV: 13.7% Mount Saint Thomas — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Bachelor Degree 13.3% / 12.9%
Coniston — Bachelor Degree: 13.3% Mount Saint Thomas — Bachelor Degree: 12.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 8.1%
Coniston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Mount Saint Thomas — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 4.1% / 4.4%
Coniston — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1% Mount Saint Thomas — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.2%
Coniston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Mount Saint Thomas — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
England 2.4% / 3.5%
Coniston — England: 2.4% Mount Saint Thomas — England: 3.5%
Italy 0.9% / 1.8%
Coniston — Italy: 0.9% Mount Saint Thomas — Italy: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.1%
Coniston — New Zealand: 1.1% Mount Saint Thomas — New Zealand: 1.1%
Thailand 1.0% / 1.0%
Coniston — Thailand: 1.0% Mount Saint Thomas — Thailand: 1.0%
Vietnam 1.2% / —
Coniston — Vietnam: 1.2% Mount Saint Thomas — Vietnam: not among its largest
China 1.1% / —
Coniston — China: 1.1% Mount Saint Thomas — China: not among its largest
Greece 1.1% / —
Coniston — Greece: 1.1% Mount Saint Thomas — Greece: not among its largest
Myanmar — / 0.8%
Coniston — Myanmar: not among its largest Mount Saint Thomas — Myanmar: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Coniston 50.9% houses
Coniston — Houses: 50.9% Coniston — Flats / Apartments: 31.2% Coniston — Townhouses: 17.9%
Mount Saint Thomas 92.3% houses
Mount Saint Thomas — Houses: 92.3% Mount Saint Thomas — Flats / Apartments: 1.1% Mount Saint Thomas — Townhouses: 6.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Median house price $1,060,000 $915,000
Median unit price $570,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 12 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Coniston has more industrially zoned land (24% vs 0%).

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Residential 60% 83%
Industrial 24% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 15%
Parks and recreation 5% 2%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
New dwellings approved 1,476
across Wollongong
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Houses 3.9%
$735/wk on $975K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
House price Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW
Income Higher than 47% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 86% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 69% of NSW —

Liveability

Mount Saint Thomas scores higher overall (64 vs 55).

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Grade B
same for both
Score 55/100 64/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Coniston carries more crime risk (78 vs 55).

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
78/100
 Moderate
55/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 18
within 5 km
 16
within 5 km

Schools

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 1.5 km
 1
UOW Wollongong, 2.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.3% 1.7%

Schools in Coniston

  • Coniston Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Mount Saint Thomas

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Parks & reserves 1
same for both
Childcare 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0

Mobility

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Walkability score 72/100 75/100
Distance to Sydney 87.6 km 86.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 84 min 82 min
Public transport score 80/100
Rail · Bus
 63/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 34.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 21.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 2500
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 14
postcode 2500
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Car (driver) 56.3% / 57.5%
Coniston — Car (driver): 56.3% Mount Saint Thomas — Car (driver): 57.5%
Worked from Home 31.0% / 36.7%
Coniston — Worked from Home: 31.0% Mount Saint Thomas — Worked from Home: 36.7%
Car (passenger) 5.2% / 3.8%
Coniston — Car (passenger): 5.2% Mount Saint Thomas — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Train 3.4% / 0.9%
Coniston — Train: 3.4% Mount Saint Thomas — Train: 0.9%
Walked Only 2.4% / 0.5%
Coniston — Walked Only: 2.4% Mount Saint Thomas — Walked Only: 0.5%
Bus 0.6% / 0.5%
Coniston — Bus: 0.6% Mount Saint Thomas — Bus: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (57.5%).

Setting

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Elevation 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 46 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.8 km
1.8 km to a named beach
 2.2 km
2.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Connectivity score 100/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,176 premises
 100%
589 premises

Climate

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
PM2.5 6.2 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.66 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Wollongong
same for both

Federal electorate

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Division Cunningham
same for both
Member Alison Byrnes
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Coniston Mount Saint Thomas
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Coniston

Apartments Coastal Parks Trains Transport Hub

Mount Saint Thomas

Coastal Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Coniston

Coniston vs Wollongong Coniston vs Port Kembla Coniston vs Mangerton Coniston vs Spring Hill

Other comparisons with Mount Saint Thomas

Mount Saint Thomas vs Figtree Mount Saint Thomas vs Mangerton Mount Saint Thomas vs Spring Hill
Full data on Coniston Full data on Mount Saint Thomas
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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